Substantive Changes in the Faculty Handbook

FACULTY MEETING AGENDA

February 25, 2005 3:30 – 5:30 pm Hieronymus Lounge

3:30 Call to Order – Approval of Minutes of January 28, 2005

3:35 Opening Meditation

3:45 Report from Associate Academic Dean for Curriculum – Ray Rosentrater

3:55 Report from Admissions and Retention Committee – Joyce Luy, Director of Admissions

4:10 Election for 2005-2006 Faculty Council

4:20 Break

4:30 Action Items Handbook Revision – “Resolving Complaints,” Section 2.10.1d Handbook Revision – Change of the Academic Senate Library Committee to the Academic Resources Committee Handbook Revision – Removal of the Faculty Instruction Technology Committee

5:00 Provost’s Perspective

5:30 Adjourn

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Motion 1 from Faculty Council: Modify the procedure for resolving complaints (2.10.1 of the handbook) to include: 1) the option for the faculty member to submit the complaint to faculty council; 2) the requirement that the College’s ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer be consulted when the complaint is about the denial of an accommodation for a faculty member with a disability. Additions are in bold and deletions are marked by strikethrough.

Rationale: 1) Provision should be made enabling faculty to appeal directly to Faculty Council.

2) The language about the ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer is being proposed at the request of college counsel.

2.10.1 Resolving Complaints No matter how good our intentions may be toward another person, conflicts will arise at times. Often minor conflicts can be worked out between parties (with or without intervention) and without the need to file a formal complaint. Sometimes a more intense or complex conflict may be best resolved with the help of others through a formal process (e.g., a harassment complaint). The process that follows is designed to encourage informal efforts to resolve complaints before a more formal approach is taken (see grievance procedure 2.10.2 and harassment policy 2.6.1). Ideally conflicts should be resolved quickly and, if possible, with the least amount of formality. Faculty should feel free to discuss such issues with the Provost at any time. a) In most cases faculty should first attempt to resolve complaints by personally discussing the matter with the other party(ies) involved. Often, directly confronting the problem in this way is the simplest way to resolve conflicts and reconcile relationships. b) If a complaint cannot be successfully resolved informally between the parties, the faculty member should then discuss the matter with a neutral third party, perhaps the campus pastor or a member of the counseling staff, who may be helpful in mediating a resolution to the problem. c) If a complaint cannot be resolved by a chosen third party, the faculty member should then discuss the matter with his or her department chair, again with the hope of bringing about a positive resolution. (If the faculty member’s complaint is with the department chair, then the employee should discuss the matter with the Vice Provost.) d) If the complaint cannot be resolved by the department chair (or Vice Provost or if the faculty member’s complaint is with the department chair), the faculty member should submit a written summary of the complaint to the Provost or to the Faculty Council, who will then meet with the faculty member to determine whether the use of an external mediator is appropriate. When the complaint is about the denial of an accommodation for a faculty member with a disability, the College’s ADA/Section 504 Compliance officer will be consulted. The faculty member will receive an initial written acknowledgement from the Provost (generally within five working days), which will outline the process for reviewing and responding to the concern. e) If the complaint is not resolved to the faculty member’s satisfaction, the faculty member may petition the faculty council (outlined below in 2.10.2, grievance procedure) or the President of the College (following the complaint resolution procedures established in the staff handbook). Motion 2 from Faculty Council: Change Library Committee of the Academic Senate to the “Academic Resources Committee,” whose tasks are a combination of those for the Library Committee’s and for the Faculty Instructional Technology Committee – additions marked in italic, deletions by strikethrough.

Rationale: When the Faculty Instructional Technology Committee (FITC) was first created, very few classrooms on campus were equipped with computer-based instructional technology. The FITC was formed in part to investigate and evaluate new technologies becoming available for instructional use, and to raise awareness among faculty and educate them in their use. As well, the committee advised the newly appointed Director of Information Technology.

We have made considerable progress since then. The FITC has assisted the IT Director in evaluating new resources as they have become available, many classrooms are now equipped with computer-based instructional tools, and the FITC has educated and informed faculty on the use and utility of these resources. At present it would appear that the workload of the FITC is considerably reduced from the days of its original inception. In the judgment of Faculty Council, it is at present difficult to justify committing 6 full-time faculty members to this assignment. We fully recognize the continuing need for a faculty committee to assist the IT Director in technology-related decisions as they relate to the classroom, and to work on behalf of faculty interests in staying up to date on new and existing instructional technology.

The Academic Senate is the body that initiates change in policy with regard to curriculum and matters relating to classroom instruction. Most, if not all of the duties of the FITC, as currently spelled out in the Faculty Handbook, are related to curriculum and curriculum development. It therefore seems appropriate that the tasks of the FITC be carried out by a subcommittee of the Senate.

According to its handbook description, the Library Committee provides acts as a sounding board for the Library Director, and many of the issues that it considers involve technological resources (online databases, electronic journal subscriptions, etc.) While the present motion involves changing the Library Committee into a new Academic Resources Committee, the tasks of the Library Committee are still listed among the ARC’s duties.

A few years ago the Academic Planning Committee was disbanded and some of its duties incorporated into the Academic Senate subcommittee structure. Faculty Council now feels it is time to do the same with the FITC.

1.4.3.3.4 Academic Senate: Library Committee Academic Resources Committee

The Academic Resources Committee (ARC) is concerned with recommending and implementing resources suitable for faculty and student use in the classroom and in the library. Additionally, the ARC makes recommendations to the Academic Senate regarding policy on use of instructional resources. a) Membership: 1) Provost or Associate Academic Dean for Curriculum Vice Provost 2) Director of Library & Information Services (ex-officio) 3) Director of Information Technology (ex-officio) 34) Three department chairs, one from each division, to be elected annually to a one-year term by the Academic Senate. from members of the Senate who are not members of the Executive or the Review Committees. 5) One additional full-time faculty member, selected by the Provost in consultation with Faculty Council, to serve a three-year term as committee chair. 46) One student appointed by W.C.S.A. 57) On an ad hoc basis, such members of the library faculty or staff who may be required for a specific purpose, who will have voice without vote. All Academic Senate members shall have voice without vote at every meeting. b) Reports to: 1) In matters regarding policy that affect instruction, the ARC reports to the Academic Senate. 2) In matters regarding acquisition and implementation of technology, the ARC makes recommendations to the Director of Information Technology and reports to the Provost. d) Purposes: 1) To assist the Director of Information Technology in determining what new technologies and products are appropriate for Westmont College, and which should be evaluated for instructional use. 2) To propose the acquisition and implementation of new instructional resources. 3) To work with the Director of Information Technology in educating and enabling faculty in the use of new and existing resources. 4) To recommend policy relating to technology issues that affect faculty and students. 1)5) To serve as a sounding board for provide advice to the Director of Library & Information Services in library-related matters, including collection development, building-related matters, staffing, programs, and budgetary issues. 2) To provide advice to the Library Director regarding collection development, building-related matters, staffing and programs. 3) To provide budgetary advice and support. 4)6) To refer items (as appropriate) to the full Senate for their recommendation to the faculty.

Motion 3 from Faculty Council: Remove the FITC from the faculty standing committees Rationale: See rationale for previous motion.

1.4.3.4.7 Faculty Instructional Technology Committee The Faculty Instructional Technology Committee (FITC) is concerned with recommending and implementing information technology suitable for faculty and student use at Westmont College. Additionally, where appropriate, the FITC makes recommendations to the Academic Senate regarding policy concerning instructional and information technology. a) Membership: 1) Two faculty members from each division, chosen by the faculty from faculty members who have expressed or demonstrated a significant interest in instructional technology. Note that for purposes of divisional balance, the Faculty Instructional Technology Coordinator counts as a division representative. Term of office is three (3) years. 2) Director of Information Technology (ex officio) 3) Director of Library and Information Services (ex officio) b) Officers: Faculty Instructional Technology Coordinator (appointed by the Provost from one of the faculty members of the committee) c) Reports to: 1) In matters regarding policy that affect instruction, the FITC reports to the Academic Senate. 2) In matters regarding acquisition and implementation of technology, the FITC makes recommendations to the Director of Information Technology and reports to the Provost. d) Purposes: 1) To identify and evaluate new technologies and products for instructional use. 2) To assist the Director of Information Technology in determining what information and instructional technologies are appropriate for Westmont College 3) To propose the acquisition and implementation of new instructional technologies. 4) To educate and enable faculty in the use of new and existing technologies 5) To recommend policy relating to technology issues that affect faculty and students.